different parts of a mans body be serviceable each to other and all be usefull for the good of the whole Nor did Christ himself only work micacles but shewed in his Apostles and other instruments a manifest concurrence of his almighty power as hee had done in Moses and Aaron when he fent them for building up of the Israelitish Church The case is much alike for now the Roman power and tyranny afflicted the Christian Church as of old Pharaoh did the Israelitish But what ever was the power opposing Christianity Christ shewed himfelse not onely to be the great Prophet before promised whom God at that time raised like unto Moses but also to bee a mighty King going b Rev. 6.2 forth conquering and still more and more to conquer For as when before Sauls time Samuel well ordering the Ecclesiasticall estate and all matters by God committed to his charge God was the c 1. Sam 12.12 King of Israel and mightily defended them against their enemies So when in the primitive times the Aposties and their successours well managed matters spirituall in the Church Christ shewed himselfe to bee their King and graciously protected them and made the Gospel to prosper in despite of all malicious and tyrannous designes to root it out 1. No policy no strength can prevaile against the Almighty how great soever it seeme in the eyes of man Gods wayes are not as worldly mens and at that time this was his course As Moses appointed seventy Elders subordinate unto him for deciding smaller matters and easing him in his charge of Judging the people so it pleased Christ as man and to set a pattern for his Deputies to use subordinate officers to appoint seventy Disciples to goe two by two as labourers into Gods harvest into all parts whither hee himselfe would come Christ also sent the twelve Apostles 1. Cor. 12.28 Ephes 4.11 the witnesses of what hee did and spake to call both Jewes and Gentiles to Gods truth Such messengers of old were Moses Aaron Elias Esay Jeremie Ezechiel and other Prophets whom God sent early and late to bring the old Israelites and Jewes out of Egypt and Babel and what Proselites they could from their superstitious errours and wicked wayes 2. God now also endowed some of his servants with the spirit of Prophesie who as it seemed good to God did first upon extraordinary occasions and for the speciall use of the Church foretell things to come and secondly expounded Scriptures which God for the comfort and instruction of his people had formerly given Prophets of both these kindes God of old raised for the building of the Jewish Church 3. God appointed some to be Evangelists writing a compendious story of Christs life and death namely Matthew Mark Luke John others Evangelists preaching and divulging the same in their sermons and opening som passages thereof in their writings So in times before from the beginning of the world God as he saw it necessary or expedient for the use of his Church in divers manners and divers parts caused the Gospel of Christ redemption by his name to be preached to Adam Noah and others and afterward by Moses David Esay Zachary and all the a Luk. 1.70 18.35 24.25 Act. 3.18 Prophets since the world began And therefore often in the new Testament for the chiefe passages of Christs words and actions and what b Act. 3.21 should befall untill his second comming and for the chief doctrines delivered by the Apostles the Law and the Prophets are usually cited 4. 1. Cor. 12.28 Ephes 4.11 God gave some to be Pastors and Teachers who were to informe their auditors mindes with knowledge of truth and to direct their practise Such of old were the Priests and Levites interpreters of the Law which was read and preached every Sabbath in their Synagogues Hence the terme Rabbi interpreted a Teacher or Doctor was never unto Christs time so frequently but in some respect abusively for the best things may be abused used among the Jewes Of Christs comming at twelve yeares old among these Jewish Teachers the Gospel speaketh John 3. Christ met with Nicodemus and others of this kind Rulers and Teachers in Israel So they of old who were chiefe in the schools of the Prophets were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Teachers and did by their schollars as Paul did by Timothy teach them 2. Tim. 2.2 that they might teach others who in time should bee able to teach And whereas God frequently calleth the children of Israel his sheepe they who fed them with sound doctrine and led them on in the practice of Godlinesse were of old their Pastors or Shepheards and from them is the term borrowed in the new Testament 5 Christ enabled some to work miracles for the confirm tion of the doctrine of the Gospel in the first publishing thereof and for the more speedy withdrawing of the Gentiles from under the Romish tyranny and superstition as he had done of old for the deliverance of Israel from out of Egypts bondage and Idolatry and as hee did at other times upon divers just occasions 6 God gave to some the gift of healing the bodies of men infirme or diseased that the world might bee more sensible and seriously considerate of cures done upon their ill affected soules Such cures were of old wrought in taking away of some of the plagues of Egypt the Leprosie of Miriam and Naaman the deadly disease of Ezekiah the raising from death the Widow of Sarepta's and the Sunamites children the dead souldier and other the like 7 God appointed some to bee helpers such as by their company consent in the truth and any service of love were taken unto the Apostles and Apostolicall men when they journyed from nation to nation In this kind went together Paul and Barnahas Act. 11.25 30. Barnabas and John called Mark Paul and Silas Acts 15.93 41. Timothy and Erastus Acts 19.22 and Paul Barnabas and Titus Gal. 2.2 Paul and Tychicus Ephes 6.21 They also were helpers whose names are joyned with Paul's in some of his Epistles as Timothy 2. Cor. 1.1 Phil. 1.1 and Sosthenes 1. Cor. 1.1 Of this number also may they be counted who ministred unto the labourers in Gods harvest of their substance and supplied them with necessaries 8 God also gave Governments stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a borrowed word most properly spoken of governours of Ships By this terme the Spirit seemeth to allude to the entertainment which the Church of God sindeth in the world that is tossed as a ship in the troublous and dangerous sea and partly to the government in a ship where care is ever taken to have a Master and masters mate and * So the seventy were sent two by two and the Apostles travelling took a helper with each of them double officers in severall places that if the first in place mis-carry the mate may be ready to succeed or if both subsist the inferiour on any
holy Nation Exod. 19.6 so under the Gospel God hath chosen a generation a royall Priesthood an holy nation nation a peculiar people 1 Pet. 2.9 God of old c Psal 76.1 was known in Jewry salvation was of the Jews Now also there are the Jews indeed and the d Gal. 6.16 Israel of God those who know God in Christ and he e Rom. 2.28 is not a Jew who is one outward in the flesh but he is one who is one within in the heart whose praise is not onely of men that his brethren should praise him but of God also by whom to be praised argueth a true praise indeed And now the old Jerusalem being demolished Jerusalem f Gal. 4.26 from above is the true mother of us all There is also a great correspondence between the enemies of Gods people then and of true Christian now Then was an enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent Christ in his time found a generation g Mat. 23.33 of vipers or serpents opposing him Himself h Apoc. 12. and his Angels Apostles and others were fought against by the Dragon and his Angels or instruments A late upstart persecuting Egypt and Babel exercise cruelty on the Christian Church as the former Egypt and Babel did on Gods people Sundry crosses betided Israel formerly in the wildernesse the Church under the Gospel is again driven into the i Apoc. 12.6 wilderness and gratiously still maintained by Gods hand as before another Gog k Apoc. 20.8 and Magog fight against the Church in these last dayes as in former times There were false Prophets among Gods people of old and a 1 Jude 11. Balaam who loved the wages of unrighteousnesse such there are now who spare not the flock wolves m Act. 20.29 in sheeps cloathing There were before a Jannes and Jambres who resisted Moses so now there n 2 Tim. 3.8 are some who resist the truth There was of old a gainsaying of Koreh against Moses and the Priests in sacred administration above others as if God had made a parity the like gainsaying to that of Koreh is foretold to been in o Jude 11. these last times So then seeing God giveth us no new Scripture over and above the old and new Testament but of his great mercy hath left them unto us for to direct our judgements and practice to them both we ought carefully to attend The old Testament was made usefull and was sufficient for the Jewish Church the old and new together have whatsoever is necessary for these last times We must fetch our instruction from both and therefore the new often relateth to the old for the old is of great use still in very many things and the equity still remaines of many observances types and ceremonies which themselves are not to bee used Christ fulfilled and put an end to some of them as the sacrifices and Paschal lamb which typed Christs dying for our sins and Jonas type shewing his rising againe the third day the observance of beasts cleane and uncleane shewing a distinction of Jews and Gentiles and some other the like Yet when Christ had fulfilled these and put a period to their observance some instruction thence is to bee raised to our selves as thus Christ was offered up as a sacrifice for us and dyed on the Grosse wee therefore must not p As Paul Act. 20.24 refuse to dye for the Gospel and must q Col. 3.5 sacrifice and mortifie our lusts Christ was the true Pascha and ended that type but in stead of it instituted the Lords Supper Christ as Jonas rose againe the third day we must rise from the death of sin the Gentiles were as beasts unclean but Christ purifying their hearts by faith they are become clean and fellow heires and one body with us yet even to this day wee r 2 Cor. 6.14 must not bee unequally yoked by marriage with infidels nor ſ 2 Thes 3.6 communicate with such as walk inordinately Other rites and ceremonies there be in the Law which do directly concern us yet their literal observance is utterly taken away as namely the seventh daies Sabbath answerable to Gods resting from creating the world was fulfilled and ended by Christs body resting that day in the grave but yet a new * Heb. 4.10 day of rest comes in place of it the Lords day in which Christ rested from the work of our Redemption Circumcision is abolished yet circumcision of heart and lips are still of use And as a Jewish child was to be circumcised the eighth day so ought a Christians child to be baptized in its infancy though Christ hath not expressely injoyned this in the new Testament The Israelites were to keep the Paschal feast to express their belief in Christs deliverance of them to come and their thankfulnesse for the same so hath not the Christian Church well ordained a solemn Easter feast in memory and thankfulnesse for our deliverance from a worse bondage purchased by Christ The Jews kept a feast at Pentecost in memory of Gods giving them the Law at that time and hath not the Christian Church well appointed us to observe with thankfulnesse our Pentecost at which time Christ sent downe the holy Ghost on the Apostles and others inabling them to write for us the Gospel and to deliver unto us all necessary saving and comforting truth and if the Jewes lawfully kept the feast of dedication instituted for the memory of Gods mercy unto them after Antiochus Epiphanes profanation of the Sanctuary as verily they did for Christ witnessed thereunto a Joh. 10.22 by his observance of that feast much more may wee lawfully in a thankfull remembrance of any great deliverance or favour of God observe a solemnity which publick authority shall ordaine As the Israelites in the wildernesse gathered Manna as every one could best find it laid it down in cōmon to bee distributed to every family according to their need in regard of the number of their persons yet in Canaan every one held a propriety in their possessions and goods So the Apostles and primitive Christians in case of necessity had all things common which concerned their present maintainance yet afterward left every man to hold a propriety in his estate and goods The Fire which descended from heaven to burn the sacrifices was by the care of the Priests to be kept ever burning and never to goe out so now the Spirit of God which came downe from heaven upon the Apostles in the similitude of fiery tongues is ever to be kept in and not to be quenched 1. Thes 5.19 The Priests and Levites who in time of the Law * 1. Cor. 9.13 attended at the Altar partaked with the Altar so now they which labour in the Gospel ought to live of the Gospel The sacrificing Priests and Levites teachers of the Israelites had as the Priests in the Patriarchs time
the tithes Gods portion for their maintenance and God now gives this rule that the b 1. Cor. 9.11 ministry sowing spirituall things should reape of the carnall things sowed by the Laity And in what proportion rather should that be then in that which was of old Gods portion namely a tenth part of the encrease of the ground and cattle And if we upon good ground of the equity of the Law give God and imploy in sacred duties every seventh day of our whole time as before was done in the Patriarchs time and under the Law hath not likewise our Church now well ordained that the Ecclesiastical estate should have the tithe of the increase of the earth and cattell as was done in the Patriarchs time and in the times under the Law The equity of both is alike Besides the generall Rule of mens bounty or duty in this kind shewing their thankfull acknowledgement to God was to make the extent thereof according c Deut. 16.17 Lev. 5.7 11. 14.21 Neh. 5.8 Acts 11.29 1. Cor. 16.2 2. Cor 8.12 to their ability and according to Gods blessing on their labours as God hath prospered their estate And what can bee more sutable thereunto then to render unto God a tenth ever in use untill Christs time when by Heathen tyranny it was interrupted For thus it will come to passe that each man shall have nine parts for his owne use and Ecclesiasticall persons receive a tenth and so partake in a fit proportion with the Laity in yeares of plenty and scarcity and condole in affliction or rejoyce in Gods bounty together with the Laity In the first times of the world the Kingly and Priestly offices were conjoyned in one person and must needs make him of more authority and require and move the people in their own hearts to shew the more reverentiall observance in civill and sacred duties But afterward when the burden and charge was become very great too heavy for one person to undergoe God appointed Mosem custodem utriusque tabulae to take the speciall charge of civill matters and Aaron of the Priestly calling And afterward untill Christs time the Priests tooke care of the sacred performances and were usually assistant unto the chiefe Rulers and Kings as Eleazer to Josua in dividing Canaan Zadock to Solomon in building the Temple Jehoiadah a preserver and instructor of Joash Jehosuah in commission with Zorobabel at the returne from Babel And as the chiefe Fathers and Princes of the severall Tribes assisted the King in civill matters so the Priests and Levites were subordinate to the high Priest in Ecclesiasticall businesses and he and they subject to the King so now when the Kingdomes and occasions of Christian Princes are much increased they have made use of Nobles being men of eminent parts for civill affaires and of Ecclestasiicall men being conspicuous for vertue religion prudence and learning in Ecclesiasticall performances And as the d Deut. 17.9.2 Chro. 19.6 8. Priests and Levites were in joynt commission with Judges for the judgement and cause of the Lord whose the Judgement is so have such Ecclesiasticall men as above been joyned in Judgement with prudent Lay-men in Courts where Christian Lawes subordinate to Gods Law and guided in many things by humane reason and by custome of the Nations well settled have bin the Rule determining controversies Furthermore As the Jews had one solemn place for Gods worship and service namely the Temple in Jerusalem where every day sacrifice was made and holy rites performed and prayers and praises offered up to God and had also many Synagogues in their Land for prayer and expounding the word so have not our forefathers under the Gospel being partakers of a better Covenant and enjoying better promises then they of old well shewed their thankfulnesse to God by building large and goodly Churches for prayer and praising God thrice every day and for frequent preaching in the great Cities of this Land and yet built in the lesse townes and villages ordinary and smaller Churches and Chappels for prayer and preaching at due times Where God affords more meanes he requires more duty according to mens ability so in regard that the great Cities have beene more able to build furnish and maintain Gods Churches and service they may seem religiously in this but to have done their duty Yet the equity of this will not extend so farre as Rome doth stretch it arrogating to her selfe a superintendency over all the world and desiring that all Churches on the earth should vaile to her and depend and be regulated by her as all Canaans Synagogues and Ecclesiasticall persons received their direction from Jerusalem For first in the time of the Law there was such a multiplicity of rites and ceremonies and performances that had not God made the King his Counfell and the chiefe Ecclesiasticall persons in Jerusalem to regulate all parts of the Land of Canaan unity and concord in all points could never have bin observed but in the Christian Church and in the worship and service of God therein Christ ordained few and easie Sacraments a plainer and more familiar doctrine of faith and practise so that it is very possible to keepe peace and unity and for Churches in Lands farre remote one from another to be of one accord and mind if they will rest in the simplicity of the Gospel much more for all the greater Churches in our Land to agree one with another in all performances and chief doctrines and necessary truths because they have the same plain direction from sacred Scripture and one King Parliament to regulate them Secondly whereas God foretold that many a Rev. 17.13 14 15 c. Kings should give power and authority to a tyrannous Beast and should submit themselves to the great City which then raigned and ever since desired to domineer over the Kings of the earth and yet should afterward when the Lamb of God Christ had overcome them re-assume to themselves their own power given them by Christ and should hate that great City called by the Spirit of God The Whore and make her desolate and naked This is in great part already come to passe and Kings and Queens have become nursing fathers and mothers to the Church and rightly hold and maintaine that they have supreme power in their owne Kingdoms next and immediately under Christ the head of the Church and are as independent of any forraine person whatsoever as David and Solomon in their times and therefore that they neither ought nor may be subordinate to the Roman Church which is now manifestly proved to have left her first love and to be The Whore whom the Kings of the earth should ruinate But to returne to the observances of old In the Law from which an equity being deduced is still of use in the Christian Church wee observe that there were in those times * This word is often answerable to the Hebrew for the courses of the
Priests and Levites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diversities of gifts of God of administrations and operations By Gods appointment and gracious dispensation the high Priest had the chiefe place other Priests were under him the Levites inferiour to these had one chiefe in every degree the rest under them had their different administrations some were Singers others Porters Some of these were gifted by God for exposition of Scripture or Prophecy or making sacred hymnes and other holy imployment So in time of the Gospel There were b 1. Cor. 12.4 5 6. diversity of gifts by one and the same Spirit diversity of administrations by one and the same Lord diversitie of operations by one and the same God Of the Disciples and scholars of Christ some were called to be Apostles and Teachers and Workers of miracles c. some to be Evangelists some to be Prophets These trained up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Attendants Deacons fellow workemen fellow souldiers These according as the Apostles pleased and saw expedient for the Churches use grew up from Schollars or Disciples to be helpers or Deacons and then afterward to be fellow workmen and fellow souldiers with the Apostles themselves for they of inferiour gifts were to endevour to obtain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the c 1. Cor. 12.31 more excellent gifts This Paul commands In the Law the chiefe places of the Priests and Levites over their brethren came to them by succession of bloud so that the hoary head found in the way of a faithfull and right performance of the charge entrusted unto him upon the death of the Sar or Nagîd prince or chiefe man in the high priesthood or any of the 24. Courses and the other places was preferred and succeeded the deceased But in time of the Gospel the Apostles and Apostolicall men by their appointment having the dispensation of matters under their Lord Christ committed to them and observing in severall persons the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gracious gifts bestowed by the divine power upon them whom they instructed destinated them to administrations and imployments accordingly which were diversified as was requisite for the building of Gods Church For as in the d 1 Co. 12.12 naturall body there be divers members of more noble or meaner use and all even the meanest very usefull so 't is in the Church or body of Christ And in regard that the Church is here militant under Christ the chief captain he hath his under and subordinate Captains they inferiour captains under them and lastly the common souldiers namely each private Christian who all in their places civill or sacred war under Christs banner for God hath not gifted men with an equality of courage and indowments and therefore intended not a parity either in Civill or Ecclesiasticall places There were of old among the sacred officers Sarim Negidim Nesiim Chieftains Rulers Princes of the sanctuary for the well ordering of the Priests in their severall administrations according to their faculties who were under them and doth not the equity of the matter require the same subordination in the Church of God now yea it appeareth that the Church of God was so ordered in the Primitive times for Christ ascending into heaven sate there as King of kings to preserve his people notwithstanding all Roman tyranny and appeareth there as high Priest for ever He sent twelve Apostles Bishops under him into severall parts of the world they disposed of such scholars as Christ in his life time or themselves did educate and instruct and planted Apostolicall men Presbiters Deacons their fellow workmen and the rest under other titles as they found the occasions of Gods Church to require and people fitted and ready to receive them This was put in practise in the seven Churches of Asia at Philippi Corinth and elsewere For see what course was observed in some few Churches the like we may conceive of the rest for their generall carriage The Epistles in the Apocalipse are directed to the e Apoc. 2. 3. Angel of each Church of the seven in Asia as denoting one principall man in each for so The Lord of the vineyard The Lord of the House The Lord of that servant elsewhere speeches in form like these imply one speciall Lord and not many Lords one equall to another Besides in those times there were some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not men which seemed to be eminent and were not but who were such as they seemed men f Gal. 2.6 9. of chiefe place above others dignified both by God and men pillars in Gods Church not pillars in the same rank as all good Christians are that is standing stedfast in Gods truth but pillars in regard of eminency and administration above others such were James Caiphas John And Paul and Barnabas taken unto them Again God who is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Architection The chief builder of the Church vouchsafeth the title to St. Paul that he is called an Architecton g 1. Cor. 3.10 a chiefe builder which intimates that the other Apostles were chiefe builders also and if Paul may well be stiled an Arch-builder he may also rightly be called an Archbishop Also St. John the Apostle was an Archbuilder an Archbishop under Christ The Archbuilder and the Archbishop For if Paul was so the same cannot be denyed to John Quia similium similis est ratio Christ supreme in authority gives order to John John sends the Epistles to the Angels of the Churches the Angels receive them for their own and the other Teachers for there were other Teachers besides the seven Angels and the peoples instruction This also is deducible from the equity of the Law and the order settled among the Priests of old for while Aaron the Type of Christ was alive Eleazar his sonne was stiled Nasi Nesiim Prelate of prelates or Chieftain of chieftains and the chief fathers in the 24. courses are Roshei Aboth Archpatriots and Patriarchs And seeing the new Testament doth often borrow not onely doctrine but termes of speech from the old and that very usually may we not judge that we have Architecton and Patriarch Bishop and the like borrowed from the old Testament and conceive that in the Grecian Eastern and African Churches as well as in the Roman Western Churches these titles and a like subordination of governours have taken place seeing Paul calleth himself Architecton this warranteth the rest of like nature Only a care must be had that they who have these titles 1. must not love a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 23.6 the title or preheminence belonging thereunto nor earnestly affect to be great in dignity but being call'd to any high place becom as Moses meek men and be truly fathers and overseers performing usefull service for the whole Church where they are thus dignified for Christ forbidding men to be called b verse 8 9 10 Rabbi Father Doctor yet in Scripture stileth men by the same c
God was much enlarged The Church is now and ever was a Body consisting of severall members some in this a 1 Cor. 12. Body are eyes some hands some feet c. some b Luk. 22.26 are greater and chiefe some lesse in the Kingdome of Christ The lesse have a lesse service or charge the greater and chiefe are or should bee of greater service and imployment for the good of the whole and so they are indeed though it may seeme otherwise A prudent and considerate man will not judge the belly in the Roman Apologue to bee idler then the other parts nor the Master of the Ship sitting at the Sterne a lesse actor for the welfare of the passengers then they which tug at the oares or hoyse or strike saile As the hand and foot are content with their owne offices so should each member in the Church but yet there is a difference in some regard for one of inferiour place in the Church may desire the improvement of his talent and abilities may desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as was said above As Saint Paul approves this so the practice of the primitive times shew it then to have beene usuall Matthias of a Disciple was made an Apostle Philip of a Deacon became an Evangelist Furthermore concerning the performance of these Ecclesiasticall offices Saint Paul speaking of and particularly reckoning up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the diversities of Gods gifts sheweth a more excellent way to use them namely That whatsoever gift of God in this kinde any one hath hee should above all make use of Christian love without which tongues prophesie knowledge faith and all other gifts and graces are nothing and with which Christian love if any ones heart bee truly enflamed hee will apply himselfe to doe good in the Church in whatsoever kinde hee can as Pastor as Deacon as a fellow-workman as a Presbyter as an helper c. yea doe any usefull service in the Church as God gives ability and occasion is offered So Saint John being an Apostle did as a Prophet write the Revelation and as an Evangelist also his Gospel a divine supplement to the three other Gospels and then his Epistles Paul sent forth to preach did sometimes baptise performed the part of a Deacon and Evangelist yea became all things to all men But how may it appeare that any one as a Bishop had many Presbyters and Deacons under him or had a Diocesse or a large circuit of a country to be overseen by him Answer Wee may observe that the Apostles in regard of thepaucity of labourers in the great harvest of God had large as I may call them Diocesses and that each of them settled Presbyters in many Cities as we conceive by that which we read of some of them It is also manifest that there were many Presbyters at once in a Act. 20. Ephesus Acts 20. in Jerusalem Act. 11.30 in Antioch Act. 13.1 b Act. 11.30 at Caesarea there were at one time Philip the Evangelist Paul c Act. 13.1 and the companions of his travels Agabus and Luke These would not have stayed there but that there was worke for more then one of them Seeing professours of Christianity much increased and the Apostles endevoured to hold them in the true faith and still to convert more Proselites it necessarily followeth that they would not see them want any needfull supply of Teachers and Instructors but sent their Ministers and helpers to any Church as any present occasion required and that they call'd them back as they found necessary and expedient for any other place And seeing some Cities were large and had many a Act. 13.5 Synagogues which the Apostles made use of and so probably such as were by them sent or left there to preach it was requisite that they should have more then one Presbyter for the same over which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angell of the Church was left When the rest of the twelve Apostles were dead and Saint John onely left alive but aged he not able to visit some remote Churches in his own person by writing to the seven Churches of Asia informed every one who had an eare in any Church whatsoever to heare their duties These Angels might according to the example of Titus left by Paul in Creet ordaine Presbyters in every of their Cities They might also try those who said * Rev. 3.9 Rev. 2.2 they were Jewes that is Christians and might examine them who pretended to be Apostles and were found lyars Had not these seven Churches more then one Teacher entertained in them no stranger would have fained * Say he was an Apostle a mission unto any of them and if the Angell of a Church exercised his power to examine and reject false pretenders we see thereby what his authority was for he who could do thus by a stranger might doe as much by a Presbyter bred up in his owne Church As for Diocesses the thing is ancient For the great Cities of old had some Pagi or villages neer adjoyned and subordinate to them Hence we read of a Jos 15. Gilead Ekron c. and their villages of Jerusalem b Ezek. 16. and her daughters Of this there is no need to doubt because it is usuall in all Countries whatsoever as being a thing for many reasons expedient and therefore wee may well grant that Ephesus Smyrna Philadelphia c. had some villages depending on them and subject to them and that therein some free men of the chiefe Cities did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inhabit And thus the thing is ancient how late soever some affirme the name to be Men also have used of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dwell together for mutuall defence and comfort one of another so that the thing here also is ancient and was fitted of old for the name of Christian Parishes Suppose there were such adjacent villages to the great Cities and that the retired persons and shepheards there harkned as soon or sooner to the Gospel then the richer and greater Citizens who were cumbred with worldly imployments burdened with the weight of honourable places because also the shepheards of Bethlehem and Joseph of Arimathea and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coasts neer adjoyning to the more noble Cities were often more attentive to the Gospel then the great men in Jerusalem and other large Cities suppose all this yet how will it appeare that these Angels or chief Overseers of the Churches had such large revenues as some Bishops in these our dayes Answer To this an answer is easily made No man can expect that a river should have so great a stream at or neer the spring head as it hath after many miles running 'T is not possible that a Lords or Knights house in New-England should be as well built furnished and attended as a Lords or Knights house usually in Old-England The Angels and Presbyters of the primitive times found stronger
1 Chr. 15.16 27. chief of the Levites To the g 1 Chr. 24 5. Prince of the Sanctuary Here then resipsa differenceth the generall term and prevents misprision confusion So likewise the term Rosh an Head or chiefe person is spoken of h 2 Ch. 13.12 God Of K. i 1 Ch. 20.27 Jehosaphat Of k 2 Chr. 24.6 Jehojadah the high Priest Of other l 1 Chr. 9.34 Priests Of a m Num. 7.11 chief man of a Tribe Of a n Judg. 11.9 Judge of Israel Of the chiefe o 1 Chr. 9.17 doore keeper of the Temple Of a p 1 Chr. 11.6 chiefe Captain The like variety of acception is to bee found in the words Nagid Prince and Nasi Ruler or Prelate By all which it appeareth evidently that the same terme may bee used of men much differing in place and degree and having an imparity in their callings So then the term Bishop being given to persons of severall degrees must be differenced according to the condition of their places God is the Bishop and great overseer of all the world Kings are now Overseers of all kind of affairs in their kingdoms Civill Magistrates are Bishops in matters secular Eleazar and Jehojadah were Bishops over the Priests and Levites The Apostles had each of them a Bishoprick superintendency over the severall nations to which they were sent The Elders of Ephesus were overseers and Bishops over their flocks The Angels overseers of the 7. Churches of Asia were their Bishops and S. John by Christ made a Bishop over them Thus cum de rebus constet vana est de verbis altercatio seeing the things themselves are plain why should wee strive about words But further it is objected Seeing the term is common to many why doth one only degree of men arrogate it to themselves Answ This scruple might well bee passed over but men prone to take exception will not let slip any the least atome The case is cleare to any seriously observant of one tongues borrowing words from another for words so borrowed usually by custome vary from their primitive acception And if custome of speech once bee taken up and become inveterate neither the plaine origination of words nor former practice of elder times once abandoned nor the clear use of words in Scripture nor any reason can prevaile against it Our cares will not endure that a Maior of a Citie bee called a Bishop of the same for though hee bee the Overseer of it the use of our English tongue will reject the calling of him Bishop Such a tyrant is Custome that Caesar may make a free-man of a Citie but cannot enfranchise a word Loquendum ut vulgus is the old Rule and therefore it would bee a vaine and idle quarrell to reason thus Why should Duke bee arrogated to one degree of men Herealt to another Heathen to all people not Jewes or Christians Clergie to Church-men Laity to the civill State Martyr to such onely as were put to death as witnesses of Gods truth Ecclesia to the Church of God seeing Dux is any Leader Herealt signifieth Herum altum an high Lord Ethnos a Joh. 11.47 signifies also the people of God Cleros b Deut. 4.20 9.29 1 Pet. 5.3 all members of the Church Laos c Joh. 11.51 the whole people Martyr d Mat. 18.16 one witnessing to the truth though never violently put to death for the same Ecclesia e Acts 19.39 a tumultuous assembly of Silver-smiths the like Custome of the times restrained the signification of these words and so of the word Bishop So that Bishop in Greeke whence it descends is any Overseer but in our English and some modern tongues it is restrained and appropriated to one in place as Overseer of the Clergy a work of singular use if well performed Secondly Nor doth the custome of our speech only in the practice of these our times make for this but Scripture it selfe shews the prevalency of custome and how use takes up and warrants some words for currant and lyes by others So hee of ancient time was f 1 Sam. 9.9 called Rhoe a Seer whom afterwards custome nominated Nabi a Prophet And whereas neither doth God give nor Moses and Aaron take to themselves in expresse Scripture the title of Sarim Princes but Korah and his adherents lay that to their charge that they made g Num. 16.13 themselves Sarim Princes and Rulers so that there the word is first used and in Korah's malice attributed to Moses and the Priests God who made them Rulers over the Priests though hee never before so farre as I know gave them that title yet afterward doth frequently stile the Priests Sarim Princes or chiefe Rulers in sacred performances to see them duly observed Wee know also that the name Apostle was given to the twelve and afterward to Paul Matthias and others but yet in the Epistles to the seven Churches of Asia Angel a terme equivalent is used Afterward as by the writings of succeeding times is evident the chiefe Ecclesiasticall person in any Church was not called Apostle or Angel but Archbishop Bishop or Papas Father or Patriarch chiefe Father and the word Apostle given commonly to the twelve and to Paul so often called Apostle that no custome could take it from him and the terme Angel appropriated to the ministring Spirits Gods messengers Also the terme Presbyter denoted any ancient ecclesiasticall man in the Apostles time as even the Apostles themselves 2 John 1. 1 Pet. 5.1 insomuch that the name of Presbyter is attributed to the twenty foure sitting on Thrones and having Crownes on their heads Revel 4.4 These wee may conceive to bee Angels of the Churches and so called when speech was of them with reference to the Churches to which they had their mission but in presence of the Lambe they rise from their Thrones and cast downe their Crowns and are termed Presbyters so a deputed Officer in presence of his Prince stands by as a private man and layes downe the ensignes of his honour Yet after times appropriated the title Presbyter that is Priest to them whom wee call Ministers and since that custome hath so prevailed that the terme Priest is by our common people and others confined to a Popish Priest nor will they well endure to have the word righted according to his ancient acception and have Presbyter translated Priest which might justly be done if custome would give leave And thirdly As the Apostles imparted the titles of Apostle Presbyter Deacon Watchmen Souldiers Husbandmen Labourers Teachers Pastours to others so likewise they left the title of Bishop for each of them had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Bishoprick as above to Ecclesiasticall men succeeding them Only after times appropriated some of these Titles to certaine degrees of men as the prevalency of custome settled them and distinction of termes was entertained to avoyd confusion and misprision when the Church of